Students Name: _____________________

Big Rapids Public Schools

Course Syllabus
English IA Instructor E-mail

Course Description: English IA is a one-trimester survey course incorporating multi-cultural literature, grammar study, vocabulary development, literary concepts and the writing process. Students will be involved in cooperative learning and individual exploration with thoughtful consideration of the works presented. Course work includes interdisciplinary material. Student success depends upon timely completion of assignments, consistent participation in classroom activities, and demonstration of deep understanding of the literature and the literary process. Student Materials Needed Daily See individual teachers syllabus for this list Goals/Objectives: 1. Students will develop critical reading skills necessary to process both literary and informational text. 2. Student will develop writing competency to successfully complete a variety of writing assignments. 3. Students will develop the ability to evaluate and make connections between what they read and write and their own lives. Grading Scale: A = 93% - 100% A- = 90% - 92.99% B+ = 87% - 89.99% B = 84% - 86.99% B- = 80% - 83.99% C+ = 77% - 79.99% C = 74% - 76.99% C- = 70% - 73.99% D+ = 67% - 69.99% D = 64% - 66.99% D- = 60% - 63.99% E = 0% - 59.99% NC CR = 0% - 59% = 77%

Distribution of grades Trimester Coursework: Classwork and homework, quizzes and tests, notebooks, projects, class participation, writing assignments = 80% Final Examination = 20% Total = 100% Late work
Late work (not related to an excused absence via office) will receive half credit. Work is considered late if it is not placed in the appropriate area at the start of class each day (if homework) or the end of the class (if class work). Work will receive no credit if it is turned after grade postings (midterm) first half of trimester or the final exam date.

Behavioral Expectations See individual teachers syllabus

Literature/Topics Covered
Theme One: Matters of Life and Death (short stories)

The Most Dangerous Game, pg. 66 (plot, characterization, tone, mood) The Cask of Amontillado, pg.86 (context, protagonist, antagonist, irony) Blues Aint No Mockin Bird, pg. 97 (context, dialect, symbolism)
Theme Two: Filling a Void (short stories)

And Sarah Laughed, pg. 134 (dynamic/static characters) American History, pg. 155 (historical context, setting, symbol, stereotype)
Theme Four: In the Face of Adversity (nonfiction)

Night, pg. 304 (authors purpose, tone) Sympathy, pg. 324 (context, metaphor, simile, symbol, stanza, rhyme scheme,)
Theme Six: Life Lessons (poetry)

The World Is Not a Pleasant Place to Be, pg. 476 (personification, metaphor) Serenity, pg. 476 (simile, theme, repetition) Novel Animal Farm by George Orwell (In preparation for future independent novel work) Literary terms: Protagonist, antagonist, characterization, historical/cultural context, setting, plot structure, conflict, theme, personification, allegory, tone, allusion, extended metaphor, passage/quote identification.
Literary Terms

Short story elements (pgs. 2-3) Poetry terms (pgs. 436-437) Others listed after selections above.

Vocabulary pg. 66 (Game) tangible quarry discern condone scruple diverting deplorable imperative zealous pg. 87 (Cask) preclude impunity accost explicit implore pg.134 (Sarah) reticence strident inflection anguish vindictive pg. 155 (History) profound discreet vigilant enthrall elation solace pg. 304 (night) emaciated avidly meager din (Animal Farm) articulate capitulate enmity expounded impending laborious mincing obstinate posthumously repose sordid

Speeches Informative

Grammar Avoiding basic sentence errors (end punctuation, fragments, run-ons, word choice, common errors) Sentence variation/combining Verb tense and Subject/verb agreement Homonyms (correct usage of commonly misused words) Collins Writing Program
Minimum of four Type 3 writings per trimester.